Enormous
UK //ɪˈnɔː.məs//US //ɪˈnɔːr.məs//
Definition
Very large in size, quantity, or degree.
In simple words: Very big or large
Examples
- The enormous mountains were breathtaking.
- He bought an enormous house in the countryside.
- An enormous whale swam gracefully through the ocean.
- She felt an enormous sense of joy at the news.
- The garden had an enormous variety of flowers.
Usage notes
Use 'enormous' to describe something impressively large. It's commonly used in both spoken and written English, suitable for most contexts.
Grammar pattern
standalone adjective
Memory hint
Think of a giant elephant – elephants are enormous!
Collocations
- enormous size
- enormous amount
- enormous effort
- enormous challenge
Synonyms
- huge
- gigantic
- vast
- immense
- colossal
Antonyms
- tiny
- small
- minute
Common mistakes
- Using 'enormous' when 'big' would suffice.
- Confusing 'enormous' with 'immense' - 'immense' is more abstract.
- Incorrectly using 'enormous' as a noun.